ISLAMABAD,Jul 28: A passenger plane, with 152 people on board, crashed on the outskirts of the capital Islamabad. The plane was on its way from Turkey to Islamabad via Karachi. Five people have been rescued from the crash site.
The Airblue flight AB-202 was headed to Islamabad from the sea port city of Karachi when it crashed in a hillside while trying to land.
All the survivors have been given first-aid treatment on the spot and are being shifted to local hospitals in Islamabad, which have all declared emergency following the plane crash.
So far 20 dead bodies including that of the pilot have been recovered from the crash site, said sources on the site, adding some of the bodies were still on fire when recovered.
The plane bound for Islamabad took off from Karachi at 7:45 AM and crashed at 9:45 AM.
At least one helicopter could be seen flying over the crash site, as smoke rose from the ground.
People gathered at the airport where some were openly mourning.
The airplane lost contact with the control tower of Islamabad airport just before the crash.
The tragedy took place at about 9:45 am local time when an airbus flight of a Pakistani private airliner Airblue, which reportedly carried 152 people including six crew members, crashed behind the mountains of Margalla Hills lying to the northeast of the capital.
An emergency has been imposed in all hospitals of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed grief over this tragic incident. PM announced a day of National mourning. For further information relatives and friends of the victims can contact on help line numbers: 051-9031321 and 021-99071385